nftlan UN ITT and P E A C

recommended.

E R M O N

2REACHE3

EY, May $f&i 176
B Y

DAVID M A C G R E G O R E, A. M

Paflor of a Church in LON

B OS T o i^ :

Printed by W. M* ALPINE and J. FLEEMIXG in Marlborough-
ftreet. M,DCC,LXV,

jAtiA*tAfc.tAA^t**^tAA.e^ ^

X X X X X X. X X X X X X. X X ';•< X. X X X X x! x X! X ;•:< x: XX X X X X :> ••;. X. X X?

2 Cor. xiii. 1 1.

Finally brethren farewel : Be perfetf, be of good,
comfort^ be of one mind, live in peace -, and the
God of love and peace ft all be with you.

text contains the apoftle's valediai-
on to l^c churck °* Corinth, and a
vcry affe&i°nate and pathetick one
ft *s ; evidently proceeding, from an
heart warm with divine love, and
containing great encouragement to the pcrfon, who,
cordially complies with the exhortation therein con-
tained. It feems, it was antiently, as it now is,
cuftomary for an author to conclude his epiftle with
a benevolent wiih. Paul falls in with this cuftom
the more readily, as it fuits the prefent temper of his
heart. He does not take his leave with a dry emp-
ty compliment, but heartily wifhes the Corinthians
the belt bleffing, viz. the divine fpecial prefence,
which he alfo promifes them on their compliance
with the exhortation. This confifts of feveral (hort
fentences. Be perfec}yKAT ART IZC&THE, literally it
figniSes be compadt, or united, viz. as the members
of the fame body, or the conftitute parts of the fame
building. The perfection of a fociety lies much in
the unity of it. 'Tis probable, that the apoftle here,
has particular reference to the perfection or corn--
pleating the body of the Corinthian church, by re-
ftpring foine members, who had for a time been

feperated

C 4 1

Separated from its communion by fufpenfion ; or elfe
$vho had, by a divifive contentious fpirit, with^
drawn themfelves. The original word quoted fa-
vors this fenle, fi jjnifying the putting thole mem-
bers of a body into their proper places, which had
been loofned from their joints. Be of good comforti
the original word may be rendered exhorted, or
comforted, or confirmed ; what if we fhould take
it as comprehending all thefe ? Be exhorted to pay a
due regard to the various precepts and counlds I
have given you, from the Spirit of God. Be com-
forted in all the trials, all the afflictions you have
met, pr may meet with in your profeffion of the
gofpel Be confirmed viz. in the truths and righte-
ous ways of God. Be of one mind ; q. d. Lbotir
for a unity of fentiment ; try to think alike, to be
of the fame mind, of the fame judgment, in mat-
ters pf religion ; but if you cannot attain to this,
but are. pbliged to differ in opinion in foms lefler
things, yet be one ia affection, live in peace : i. e.
free from that wrath and envy, thofe contentions
and ftrifes, which have hitherto been but too fre-
quent among you $ remember that the wrath of
snan wcrketh not the righteoufnefs of God -y and
clo not, by your condudt, give me occafion to -re-
peat thefe words ; f < whereas there be divifions a-
*c mong ycq, are ye not carnal, and walk as men/*
To induce to a ready compliance with the duty
exhorted to, he adds, The God of love and peace
[hail be <ipitb you : q. </. The true God is the God
of peace 5 he is Iqve in the abftradt, fo that your
complying *with this exhortation is the dired: way
to enjoy his gracious fpiritual prefence. What an,
mouve is here !

[ 5 ]

IN fpeaking more largely on this fubjecT:, I {hall
endeavor,

Fir ft, To {hew what that peace and love among
Chriftians is, to which the apoflle exhorts with fo
much warmth and earneftnefs.

Secondly, To evince and illuftrate the great im-
portance of fuch a peace, amopg Chriftians, thofc
particularly, who are connected in the fume fociety.

Thirdly t ADVENTURE to give a few directions,
by a due attendance on which, this important bltff-
ing may be attained and promoted among Chrifti-
And then make fome application.

I am to ihew, fir ft t what that peace and love a-
mong Chriftians is, to which the apoftle exhorts
with Co much warmth and earncftnefs ? In anfwer
to this enquiry, I ihall mention two effential cha-
racters or qualifications of this peace.

fir (I, An agreement in principle, at leaft in the
main things. The prophet no doubt intends, that
his queftion fliould have a negative anfwer, when
he fays, Can two walk together except they be agre-
ed ?* Doubtlefs two may walk together, /'. e. may
have religious fdlowfhip ; may join fweet counfel,
who differ in fentiments on fome lefler points, other-
wife there could be no act of occafional communion,
among chriitians of different denominations : N;j,
perphaps, it would be found on enquiry, that there
p>uld be no luch thing as religious icllo wfliip or

walking

walking together, in the matters of religion, but ۥ*
very one muft walk by himfelf, there not being two
perfons, who are exadly agreed in all points of doc-
trine. In matters of leffer moment, chriftians
fhould exercife mutual forbearance : a tender, cha->
ritable difpofition, towards a chriftian brother, er-
ing in fome lefler things, will be an effedt of that
modefty and humility, which well becomes the
prefent infant ftate of darknefs and imperfection,
where the beft know but in part, and all are liable
to err. To fee the chriftian church rent to pieces,
by the over- rigid urging of uniformity, in fentirnent
and praftice, on points of frmll moment ; and per-
fons under the influence of party rage, excomuni-
cating and anathematifing one another, as though
the effence of religion was at ftake^ affords a lively
picture of human weaknefs and 'folly j and yet, how
often do we fee humbling and fhamefal inftances
of this kind 5 fometimes in men, who are, other-
ways, pious, learned, eminent.

BUT when all this is freely granted, ir rseverthe-
Isfs remains true, that among Chriftians, particu-
larly thofe, who are affociated in religious focieties,
there Should be an agreement in principle, at leaft
in the main things. To fee Orthodox, Arians, Pe~
laghns, Socinians, and even Deifts, all confufedly
blended together in one communion, is not feemly.
This may be termed catholicifm, but it is latitu-
dinarianifm. This is faying a confederacy, tc*
which heaven will not fay amen ; and inftead of
being acceptable, is abominable to God. What
fellowship hath light with darknefs ! It is furprif-
inqp, as v/ell as fad to obferve, to what a length fome
moderns have carried the matter, even to the af-

f^rting

[ 7 ]

fcrting, that it is no material thing, what a man's
religious opinions are, provided, he appear to be of
a benevolent difpofition, and to pay a proper regard
to the focial virtues. This is departing from bigo-
try and narrownefs, to another, and I was going to
fay, a worfe extream. Chriftians fhould beware of
all extreams : They fhould remember, that the wif-
dom which comeih from above, is firft pure, then
peaceable i that precious as peace is, they who fell
the truth to buy it, give teo high a price. If they
confult their bibles, they may read of damnable he-
relies,* doctrines, that fubvert fouls,-f- words, that
cat like a canker. J Among all the apoftles of our
Lord, none was more eminent for a catholic difpo-
iition, a heart dilated with the love of God, than
the apoftle John ; and yet, how ftridt he is upon thp
head of doctrine, you fee, by that precept, 2 epif,
of John, ix. 10, whofoever tranfgrefleth, and abid*
ctb not in the dodlrine of Chrift, hath not God.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doc-
trine, receive him not unto your houfe, neither bid
him God fpeed ; for he that biddeth him God fpeed,
is partaker of his evil deeds. How awful are thofe
•words of Paul, Gal. i. 8. where, he is manifeftly
fpeaking of thofe, who, in the justification of a fin-
ner, mingled the law with the gofpel. Though
we^ or an angel from heaven, profefs any other gof-
pel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be
accurfed.

^ Secondly, ANOTHER eflential character or quali-
fication of that peace among Chriftians, which the
apoftle exhorts to in my text, is, that it be founded

* z Peter ii. i^ f A&s xv. 24, } 2 Tim. ii. 17.

or

[ 8 J

on love to G0J. There may be, and often is an ex-
ternal peace, among a fociety of profeficd Chiifli-
ans, and much outward unity and harmony, where
there is little or nothing of the love of God at bot-
tom. Such a peace may be founded upon princi-
ples of policy, or on a party fpirit. " We muft be
" united, this -will render us a refpedlable body;
c< nothing will bes.ble to ftand ao;ainft us 5 we (hail
<c be an over-match for all our adverfaries." Thus
many realon ; and this is the bafis of their {tricl u-
nion : But this is not the peace and love, which my
text fo warmly recommends. There is nothing pe-
culiar to Chriftianity in this peace : A fociety of Ma-
hometans or Pagans, may keep united from the fame
motives, the fame political views. The peace and
love in my text, is bpilt on love to God : according
to that divine word, every one that Joveth him that
begat, love^h him alfo that is begotten of him.*
That love which unites true believers to the head,
cements them in the clofeft, and moft cordial bonds
to each other. They regard one another, as the
children of one common father, who have one Lord,
one faith, one baptifm ; who are one bread and one
body; who are at prefeht, in many refpefts in the
fame circumftances, in the fame ftate of warfare
and trial, expofed to the fame enemies and tempta-
tions 5 who expeft a common falvation. And hence
they love as brethren, are pitiful and courteous, no
one' allows himfelf to feek his own good, feparate
from that of his brethren. They cover one ano-
thers infirmities with love : they feel the happy and
powerful influence of that fervent charity, which;
is the bond of perfeftnefs ; and hence, they do all

* i. Join* v. i,

mutual

[ 9 ]

mutual good offices, with a benevolent heart,; tJnp*
py the chriftian fociety, which |is held together by
this bond !

I PROCEED to the fecond head, /. e. to fliew, of
how g; eat importance, iuch a peace and harmony
as has been defcribed, is, among chriftians, thofe
particularly, who are connected in the fame fociety.

THAT fuch peace and love, is a valuable and
important bleffing to chriflian focieties, appears
from the warm manner, in which it is urged in mjf
text, and other fcriptures j and the powerful mo-
tives wiih which the duty is enforced. Mow af-
fectionate is the apoftles farewel in the text; how
warm, and withal, how argumentative ! Thofe are
pathetic words, Phil. ii. 1,2, " If there be there-
fore any confolation in Chrift, if any comfort of
love, if any fellowmip of the fpirit, if any bowels
and mercies : fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like mind-
ed, having the fame love, being of one accord, of
one mind/' In what a variety of expreffion, does
the prince of peace recommend love and peace to
his followers. This is his c< new commandment."*
This is the badge, or diftinguiming note of his dif-
ciples.-f- May I not add, that this is one of the
things which our great interceflbr is now pleading
for, on the behalf of his people, at the throne of
grace. This we may learn, from that ipecimen he
gave of his interceffion, before his paffion ; fee John
xvii. 21. u That they all may be one, as thou Father
art in me, and I in thee, that they al'o may be one
In us j that the world itiay know that thou haft fent

* John siii. 34. f ver. q^.

B me,

me, and haft loved them as thou haft loved me."
To excite them to peace and love, he puts them in
rnind that they are brethren, that they (hould there-
fore love as brethren. That they are but a little
flock, have many and formidable enemies; that
therefore, they fhould cleave clofe together. I might
ihew that love is called the fulfilling of ihe law;*
Is put among the foremoft of the fruits of the Spi-
rit.^ The apoftle John, who is termed by way
of eminence, " the diiciple whom Jefus loved," and
who partook of our Lord's fpirit in an eminent de-
gree, appears tranfported in a manner, in the com-
mendation ofchriftian love and unity. "Love (fays
he) is of God, and every one that lovcth, is born of
God, and knoweth God."- — That " he whodwcl-
leth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him/'
That he who is deftitute of love, whatever other
attainments he may boaft of, is " a murderer, a liar,
and abideth in death." It is reported of this apoftle,
that as he furvived all the reft, and lived to extream
old age, fo when his powers were greatly enfeebled,
in fomuch, that he could do little more than move
and fpeak a few words, he often ufed to addrefs the
chriftians, faying, " fee that ye love one another."
I might moreover fhew, that chriftians are com-
rnanded " to be kindly affc&ioned one to another :—
That love be without diffimulation : — To be piti-
ful and courteous : — To provoke one another to
love and to good works."

Now, confidering how exprcfs the fcripture is
upon this head, I think, there are but few dutys of
religion, the obligation of which, it is more dif-

* Rom. xiii. 8. f Gal. 5. 22.

ficult

[ II ]

ficult to evade. If a perfon be utterly deftitute of
love, be evidently of a lour, narrow, felrifh, ma-
levolent temper $ if he be under the dominion of a
malicious, revengeful fpirit ; what ever knowledge
he has, what ever faith, what ever zeal for God
and his truth, he may pretend to, it is plain, that
the love of God has never taken poffeffion of his
heart. If it had it would doubtlefs have humbled
his pride, and moulded him into a more Chrift
like temper. A fociety in which there is little or
no brotherly love to be feen, where jealoufies and
heart burnings, bitter envying and ftrife, whifper-
ing and backbitings are frequent, is liker a fociety
of pagans than Chriftians.

" LIVING in malice and envy, hateful and hating
one aaother," was a character fuitable to the gentiles,
before they knew Chrift -, " but after that the kind-
nefs and love of God our Saviour towards man ap-
peared," and they began to feel the benign influ-
ence of the chriftian religion, matters put on a new
face.*

I might here expatiate, in {hewing th« excellency
and imoprtance of love. It were eafie to ifcake it
appear, that love is the very fpirit of angels, of glo-
rified faints, and of the beft men upon earth. Per-
haps there is nothing, wherein the angelical and di-
abolical natures arc fo much diftinguiihed, as by
love and goodnefs. The devils have fpiritual immor-
tal natures, and great degrees of power and know-
ledge, but devils cannot love 5 inftead of love,
fweetncfs and benignity, with which the bleffed

* Tit. iii, 3, 4.

angels

atcels arfe replete, thefe depraved lofi-, miferable
fpirits, are fubject to the vaflulage of the fierce pal-
lions of malice, cruelty and revenge. " Thele are
" the very image of fatan, aud the fpirit of hell."
On the other hand, we have reafon to think, that the
blefTed angels and glorified faints live in the joyful
cxerciie of perpetual love, aud the mofl tender en-
dearments : and the better any man is upon earth,
the nearer he aproaches to the temper of the bleffed
inhabitants above. Love dilates the good man's
heart, fo that he no longer makes himftlf his chief
end, but he has a fincere concern for the good of
others. 'Tis one of the characters of charity, that
*' {he feeketh not her own."* The good man is ne-
ver fo much pleafed, as when he is employed as an
inftrument, in the hand of God, in promoting the
good of others ; he (hews mercy with cheerfulnefs.
How many lovely examples of this kind, does the
facred fcriptures afford, as well as later hiftory: O
that there were more of them ! O that the lame
mind might be in us, which alfp was in Chrift
Jefus ?

I might add, that, as love is the fpirit of angels,
and good men, fo it is the tie or band of chriftian
communion. This communion is neceflary, at
leaft, for the well-being of the church, which is a
compound body, made up of many parts or mem-
bers, which ftand in mutual need of one another ;
the qualifications or gifts of this member, fupplying
the defects of that ; each contributiug its part, tq
the good of the whole : fo that ec the eye cannot fay
to the hand, nor the head to the foot, I have no need

* I Cor. xni.

of thee." Now, in a divided ftate, where love is gone,
and in ftead of keeping the unity of the fpirit, in
the bond of peace, a chriftian fociety is iplit into
parties, a fad confequcnce often is, that they who
fhould lay out their talents for the good of the
body, are apt co employ them for its hurt. Inftcad
of edifying or building up, they do their utmoft to
pull clown with both hands. 'Tis an cbfeivation
which has been often made, and which is a fad
truth, that the greaieft evils which have befallen
chriftian focieties, are thole which flow from intef-
tinc diviiion?, growing upon the decay of love.
That thefe are the flames which have confumed the
church; when the flames of periecution have only
finged her garments.

I MIGHT udd, that love end peace in chriftian
focieties, commends chriftianity to them that are,
without. Behold how the chi iftians love one ano-
ther, was a proverb among the heathen in the primi-
tive, times ; and I make no doubt, but the feeing this
fweet harmony, was the. means of convincing many
a fpeclator, of the divinity of the chriftian religion,
and by that means, of gaining profeliies. I have of-
ten thought, that were the humility, the goodnds,
the peaccablenefs and charity of the chriftian religi-
on tranfcribed, or carefully copied into the lives of
its prc feflbrs, it could fcarce fail of captivating the
hearts of impartial fpeclators. They would be rea-
dy to fay, " furcly this reli ion muft needs be
from God, which makes its profeffors fo godlike.1'
And in coniequence hereof, they would be apt to
take up .the fame happy refolution, with thoie men-
tioned by the prophet, who laid, " \ye will go with

you,

C i'4

you, for we have heard that God is with you/**
Hence our fkilful interceflbr, when he pleads for
unity among his difciples, ufes this argument, that
hereby the world would be convinced, that his mif-
fion was from God, or that chriftianity had a divine
original. " That they all may be one, as thou fa-
ther art in me, and I in thee, that they alfo may be
one in us, that the world may believe that thou haft
Jcnt me"* What is the rcafon why chriftianity
makes fo little progrefs in the world, notw'ithftand-
ing of many excellent books, and much good
preaching, and other precious means! Alafs, the
reafon, or at leaft one main reafon, is the bitter par-
ty fpirit, the fierce tempers, the antichriftiaoi lives
of many of its profeflors : thefe are the things,
which powerfully tend to harden the prophanc in
their evil ways, and to caft a {tumbling block in the
way of the blind,

I might further add, that where there is in a chril-
tian fociety, fuch a peace as has been defcribed, its
falutary effects are innumerable. The apoftle James
obferves, that " where envying and ft rife is, there is
confufion and every evil work." So on the other
hand, where there is love and peace of the right
fort, there, will be every good work, for love is the
fulfilling of the law. For inftance, the members of
fuch a iociety, will be mutually afllfting to each o-
ther, in all difficulties ; they will help to " bear one
anothers burthens, and fo to fulfil the law of Chrift."
If any thing is projected, tending to promote the
common good, it meets with a general fuffrage, is
harmonioufly embraced. Whereas in a divided

* Zacli. viii. 23. f John xvii. 21.

ftate,

[ 'S 1

ftate, one party is apt to oppofe, what the other
projects, fo that the falutary fchemc is rejected, and
the comjnon intereft fuffers. Where there is love
betwcn a miniller and people, where he knows he
has their hearts, and that he is heard with can-
dour and due refpcct, it chears his fpirits, and en-
courages him to deliver his meflage with precifion,
with life, with tcndernefs. On the contrary, when
an evil fpirit is got between paftor and flock, fo that
he has reafon to fufpect he is hated or defpifed, it is
apt to embarrafs his mind, and fo to difcourage him,
as that it is well if he does not reiolve, that he will
make no more mention of the name of the Lord.
Let what has bsen faid, fuffice as to the excellency
of love and peace, and its happy influence among
chriftians, efpecially them that are connected in ihe
fame fociety.

THE third, and lad head in the doctrinal part,
was to give a few directions, by attending to which,
chriftians may receive fome afliftance, in putting in
practice the apoftolical exhortation in my text. This,
however unfit for, I (hall attempt with all humili-
ty, in the following particulars, in which I requeft
a candid hearing.

I. LET chriftians, who would enjoy peace, and
live in love, look and apply to him, with whom is
the reiidue of the fpirit, for a revival of religion.
To have it revived in their own hearts, and in the
focieties to which they belong. The cflence of re-
ligion is love. Love to men, originating from a
principle of love to God,is " the fulfilling of the law,"
and I might add the gofpel alfo. And, as love to
the brethren, is founded on love to God, fo when

** '3

the latter is decayed, the former cannot be expecl-
'cd to flouriih. Sometimes this is remarkably the
cafe. The great interesting matters of eternity, are
in a fad degree out of fight. The effect of which
is, that the love of many is waxed cold. The for-
giving love, and aftoniming grace of God, manifeft-
cd in the gofpel, has but a feeble influence on the
-hearts of profeflbrs. Chriftians, at fuch a time, can
hear the truths of religion, and perhaps approve of
them in their fpeculative judgment, but they do not
relifti the truth, they do not feel it. They do not
•<c receive the truth in the love of it." In a word, the
things that remain are ready to die 5 inward god-
]ineis is in a low (late. A wafting consumption preys
on her vitals, by which the glory of Jacob is made
thin, and the fatnefs of his flock is waxed lean.
Now, when this is the cafe, there is apt to be
but little brotherly love, very little of that fervent
charity, which is the bond of perfeclnefs. A private
felfifh ipirit is apt to prevail. That lovely charac-
ter of charity is forgot, viz. that fl:e feekctb n t her
.own. Every one acls as if he weie made for him-
felf only. People at fuch times, are eafily offended,
and hard to be reconciled ; their paffions, touched
with the fmalleft fpark, are apt to fly into the mod
furious and violent explofions. They are ready to
take one another by the throat for a very trifle.
" I'll -not let it go with him,' I'll be revenged on
<c him, Til do to him as he has done to me, I'll
'•cc render to the man according to his work/' O
firs, where the prince of peace appears among a
people, with the 'precious influence of his fpecial
grace, this private, felfi£h, this fierce vindictive fpi-
rit, falls before him, as dagon fell before the ark
ot God. Chriftkns would be difpofed to embrace

one

[ '7 ]

ane another j to love as brethren ; and ' fiotwlth-
itanding fome lefler differences, to keep u the unity
of the fpiritj in the bond of peace. "

U. GET the inward corruptions of the heart fub-
dued. You may remember the queftion of the a-
poftl« James, with the anfwer : " Whence come
wars and fightings ? come they not hence, even of
your lufts, that war in your members?" There
is a fpirit naturally in man, that lufteth to envy,
Men arc naturally of a revengeful difpofition. I
might alfo mention pride : this makes men impa-
tient of contradiction. Scorn to give place to any,
difpofes them to fet up their wills, to regard their
own judgment, as the ftaridard to which all muft
conform. Pride is fo many ways deftru&ive to the
peace of fociety, that the wife man fees ground for
that obfervatibn, " Only by pride cometh conten-
tion/'* If profeflors would live in peace, and en-
joy peace in the focieties they belong to, they fhould
endeavour to find ©at thefe corruptions of the heart,
te lament them ; to fpread them before the phifi-
cian of fouls, in order to a cure j to beg of him,
that " through the fpirit they may be helped to
mortify the deeds of the body,

III. AVOID any condudl, which tends to render
each other odious. This is a fliameful behaviour iri
the difciples of Chrift -3 diredtly contrary to that
charity, withont which, we are as <c a founding
brafs, and a tinkling cymbal." And yet I appeal to
fadls, whether it be not too common among profef-
fors, efpecially when a party fpirit runs high.

* Prov. xiv. 10

C we

C 'S

we (hould carefully (hun every pradice of this kind*
We fhould beware of party names, fuch as new
lights, old lights, new ichemers, oppofers, &c.
Theie things tend to in hate and inflame men's
fpirits, and by this means to widen divifions. Do
not be forward in condemning one another as here-
tics, or putting the worft meaning on every doubt-
ful expreffion, thereby making a man an offender
for a word. Do not impute to your neighbours
all thofe confequences, which you think are fairly
deducible, from fome principle of his, providing
you find, that he profrffrs not to fee thefe confe-
quences to be the refult of his principle : That far
from owning the confcquence, hedeteftsit as much
as you do ; and declares, that he would renounce
the principle, if he were convinced, that it did real-
ly give ground for any fuch confequence. When
will chriflians learn to treat one another with more
candor !

IV. BE on your guard again ft whifperers and tale
bearers, The devil is termed the accufer of the
brethren^* he might aHo be called the accufer of
God, for he aceufes God to men, as well as men to
God ; and he accufes men to men. And as fatan
loves to fow difcord, fo, are there not fome of man-
kind that do in this particular too nearly refemble
him. Solomon obferves, that a " froward man fow-
eth ilrife, and a whifperer feparateth chief friends. -)-"
Some are like the troubled fea, that cannot reft;
thofe talents, m a right improvement of which,
they might do much good, they employ in doing
mifchief. Inilead of ading the part, and defcrving

xii, to. f Prov. xvi. 28.

the

the character of peace-makers, they ndt the part of
incendiaries : They employ themfelves in the odious
office of tale-bearers. Such pevfons, far from be-
ing encouraged,(hould be regarded as the pcflsof fc-
ciety, and treated wkh the negledl and contempt
they deferve : And if they were thus hated, they
would foon loofe their influence, and grow weary of
their hateful employment ; and thus the remark of
the wile man would be verifyed, " The north wind
drivcthaway rain, fo doth an angry countenance a
back-biting tongue ."J 'Tis the encouragement that
js given to luch, efpccially by perfons in public fla-
tions, wiiich tends greatly to encreafe the number
of theie pernicious vermin, as well as to whet their di-
abolical zeal 5 and fo, another remark of Solomon^
is fadly verified, that " when a ruler hearkens to lies,
all his fervants are wicked. ";£

V. B£ not forward to enter into difputcs3 upon
controverted points. I grant, that debating g point
fairly, has often a good tendency to the inveitiga-
tion of truth, but as difputes are managed, there
is feldom much good comes of them, and often a
great deal of mifchief. How often are they iecn to
end in vain jangling and bitter altercation ! How
frequently do the parties in a controversy leave the
point in debate, and fall to pelting one another with,
virulent perional -reflections ! If at any time we de-
bate a point, let it be with that moderation, that
coolnefs and candor, which may make it appear
that it is truth, not vidlory we have in view. Never
caft dirt, never do any thing that might but fcein
to favour of hatred or contempt of theperfon of an

* Prov, zxv., 23. f Prov. xxix. 13.

C 2

antagonift. Never think it a fliame, but account
it your honor to give up a point, when you are con-
vinced it cannot be defended : And be candid e-
r»ough to own your error, as foon as you are con-
vinced you are in an error. If you find that difputes
cannot be managed without envy, ftrifc, evil fur-
mifings, and the like, then avoid them altogether :
Remember, that M the wrath of man workerh not
the righteoufnefs of God."

VI. BEWARE of a falfe and irregular zeal. True,
zeal, under a proper regimen, is indeed a very love-
ly grace. " Be zealous," was one part of the advice of
the fpirit, to the wretched church of Laodicea.
There can be no true religion without this grace.
Fervency in fpirit, is a neceflary qualification in
the fervice of God. We have zeal recommended,
by the example of our Lord; his amiable moderation,
and lamblike meeknefs, had no tendency to take off
the edge of zeal. Hence, he fays, " the zeal of thy
houfc hath eaten me up.'1 For the want of this
grace Chrift threatens to fpue Laodicea out of his
mouth. " It is good to be zealoufly affedted, always,
in a good thing." But how excellent foever zeal is,
it is a grace which requires a heavy ballaft : Dread-
ful have been the effedts which falfe zeal has pro-
duced. HOW often have perfons, under the influ-
ence of it, fpoken wickedly for God, and talked de-
ceitfully for hirn. It made a confcientious perfecutor
of Sapl the pharifce $* nor was he the only inftancc
of the kind ; " They (hall put you out of the fyna-
gogue (faith Chrift ) yea the time cometh, that
Svhoioever killeth you, lliall think that he doeth

f A&s xxvi, 9.

God fervice."* The falfe teachers in the church
of Galatia,who ftirred up the chriftians againft Paul,
their fpiritual father, zealoufly affecled them, but
not well, •}" If zeal is not found in conjunction with
truth; if it is not guided by wifdom,and qualified by
the chriftian temper ; the more zeal a perfon has,
the worfe ; the more mifchief is he like to do.

VII. BE on your guard againft a feparating fpirit :
This is an antichriftian fpirit. Separates often talk
much of the fpirit, and make high pretences to it ;
but let them pretend what they will, it will be
found on enquiry, that want of the fpirit of Chrift
is at the bottom of their conduct. See Judc, 19 ver.
" Thefe be they who ieparate them (elves, fenfual,
having not the fpirit. •' The Jewifli church in the
days of our Lord was become very corrupt ; and
yet, he countenanced her fo' far, as to attend her
ordinances, common and fpecul : And it is hard
to name any thing, which the heart ofChrift ap-
pears to be more fet upon, than that his difciples
might be united among themfdves. It has been ob-
ferved of fome eminently godly men, minifters and
others, that in proportion as they grew in year?,
in knowledge, in experience and fandification, fo
they have been more and more tender of the churches
peace, and fearful of divifion. I would by no means*
have any thing that I have faid, be fo underfiood, as
if I condemned all feparations: fome are no doubt
lawful, and matter of duty. Such was the fe pa ra-
tion of our fathers from myfiical Babylon, th&
mother of harlots, and abomination of the earth.
If a profeffing church is gone off from the gofp^l of

Jphnxvi, 2. + Gal. iv.

* -]

/

• Chrift, to another gofpel < if the gofpel way of fin-
ner's juftification is not taught ; if rnens fuppofed
fincere obedience, is pur. in the room of Chriit's
righteoalnefs ; if tht neceffhy of faith and regenera-
tion, are not infifted upon, or if the true natuie of
them is explained away ; if the fpecial influences of
the divine fpirit are derided and denied ; if the ee-
neral (train of teaching in a church is evidently le-
gvJ, fuch as in the nature of it tends to fettle finners
on the covenant of works, inftead of difpofing them
to renounce all confidence in the flefli ; in a word,
if a church corrupt the word of God, and reject or
neglect the means of purging herfelf, with Babylon
refufing to be healed, in this cafe, the Lord items
to call for a ieparation. See the command, 2 Cor.
vi. 17. " Wherefore, come out from among them,
and be ye leparate, faith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing, and I will receive you." Or if a
church, which is doftrinally found in the main
things, impofe on her members unfcriptural terms
of communion, fo that they cannot be of her com-
munion without wounding and defiling the con-
fcience, by doing that which is finful, in this cafe
feparation feems inevitable. We are never to do e-
vil, that good may come. " Whatfoever is not of
faith, is fin.*' This was the cafe of thofe, who
diffented from the epifcopal church in South Biitain
and Ireland. But for the members of a church to
iepafate, where they do not alledge, that any un-
fcriptural or finful terms of communion are impof-
ed ; where they cannot deny but the doctrine is
found, and the true way* of folvation is taught, be-
;caufe they think the minifter's gifts are not quite io
edifying, that he is not fo zealous, fo lively, fo fpi-
ritual, fo evangelical as fomc others, or that he has

not

t '3 1

not fo happy a talent in diltinguifhing, or riding
marches between the law and the golpel : Or to
feparate, becaufe it is alledged that there are fome
corrupt members in a church ; that {he does not
cxercife diicipline with that impartiality and ftrid-
nefs that might be wiflied ; thefe are reparations,
to which heaven will not give its fandlion. How
many, who feem more fe-arful of being defiled by
corrupt fellow members, than by the corruptions of
their own hearts ! Thele would do well to remem-
ber, that it is " out of the heart that divers abomi-
nations proceed-/'* that " thefe are the things
which defile a man •" that " he who eateth and
drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation
to himfelf."-f- Such conduit as we are faulting
has rendered, and will render the ancient Donatifts
infamous in the future ages of the chriftian church.
I do not find that they are charged with any grofs
doctrinal error j fchifm was their crime. The
church was too corrupt for them to abide in her fcl- '
lowfhip : They pretended to fet up pure churches.
By their uncharitable breaches of communion, they
rent to pieces the feamlefs coat of our Lord. Their
hateful practices tended to deftroy that unity, which
renders the church " fair as the moon, clear as the
fun, and terrible as an army with banners." They
were adtive in expofing their mother's nakednefs,
which filial duty bound them to conceal. They re-
peated the crime of Noah's impious grandion, on
account of which, the patriarch pronounced thefe
terrible prophetic words, " Curfed be Canaan, a
fervant of fervants (hall he be to his brethren, "£

VIII. BEWARE

* Mat. xv. 19. | i Cor. xi. 29.

* " Donatifts, I find, had their name from Dojiatus. He lived
if g.bout the time of the emperor Conftantine. The real caufe

" of

r M

VIII. BEWARE of falfe- teachers. The chorda
of Ephefns is commended for " trying them, who
faid they were apoftles, and finding them liars."*
Theapoflle John cautions the Chriftians not to be-
lieve every fpirit, but " to try the fpirits whether
they be of G<jd."-j- The chriftian people have the
move need to be on their guard againft fuch, be-
caufe no age cf the church is exempt from them*
Sometimes they abound greatly, and perhaps never
iaore, than in a day of God's power. If Satan can-
no: prevent God's work, he will endeavour to mi-
niick, and by this means, to bring a flur upon it.
When Mofes did, by the power of God work true^
the magicians, by the affiftance of Satan,- wrought
counterfeit miracles. So, in the apoftles days, there
were falfe apoftles. So at the reformation, how
were the bowels of the infant church, in a manner

of his going oiT from the church, is faid, to be a difcontcnt,
that he mill of the bifhoprick of Carthage. He would allovr
no church to be a true church, but what was pure from all fin.
He rebaptifed thpfe who had been baptifed by them whom he
called hereticks."

And here I would leave' it to be confidered, how far the cha-
racter of this antient fcifmatic, agrees with theirs, who deny the
vifibie church memberlhip of all infants; who teach, that the bap:
tifm of fuch, ahho' the only baptifm that the chriftian churcli
knev/ for many centuries, is' no baptifmy has no foundation in th£
word of God -/who will admit none to fpecial communion with
them, but fuch as have been baptifed at an age of obfcrvation;
thereby prafttcally declaring, that they look on tht whole chrif-
tian church, (their own feel excepted) to be, " aliens from the
Common wealth of Ifraei," Who fhew a forwardnefs , to pick
members out of the p'urefl: pedobaptift churcnes. Receiving witn
rfpon arms, all v/ho are difpofed to renounce their infant baptifm,
and make a profeffion of faith, though it be too apparent, that they
neither have hadfufficient time, nor means to examine the contro-
verfy. Whofe coi^dua gives fubftantial proof, that they are dif-
pc>fed fb bi^ild their feel: on the ruins of every other denominat!<v\
*f profefied chriflians.

*v I?.ev. ii- 7. f n John nr, i,

torn to pieces, by the divifive practices of anabnp-
tills, and other emhufiafts.

PEOPLE (hould bexvare of the. depths of Satan I
they have more need, considering that fdlfe teachers
do often a£t with much cunnin<r,fo that the hurt they
do ib qot prefently difcerned. Hence they arecom-
purcd to foxes, to " little faxes, thot fpoil the ten-
der vine/'* They often make a fair (hew, hence
they are faid tq come " in fheeps cloathing."-}*
And are. called " deceitful workers, transforming
themfelves into the upofllcs of Chrift/' Some of
them are faid to (hew great figns and wonders, to
deceive, were it poffible, the yery eledt. Such
teachers may have rich natural endowments, and
great acquirements ; they may preach many preci-
ous truths ; they may be foft and iufinuuting in their
addrcfs; may profefs great intimacy with heaven;
they may not only ufe fuch good words and fair
fpeeches, as have a tendency to deceive, but may
make high pretences to zealaand may zealoufly affeit
their cafy credulous followers ; and they do this the
more eaiily, becaufe as their principal dtfign (what-
ever they may pretend to the contrary) is to pleafe,
rather than to edify ; fo they are ap^-td fall in with
men's favourite paflions, by infilling chiefly on fucli
topics as they know will pleafe. In fine, to difc
cern between true and falfe teachers is not fo eafy a
thing as fome may imagine, especially at a time
when a fedarian fpirit prevails ; when unclean fpi-
rits afcend as it were in fwarms, out of the bottom-
lefs pit ; when many falfe prophets are gone out in-
to the world $ when there are a great variety of op-

i

* -Can. ii. 15 f f Mat. vii. 15.' J 2 Cor. *i. iq. .

£> polite'

. t 26

pofitc pretences, one crying, " lo here is Chrift/'anc!
another, lo he is there, arid each very fanguine that
he is in the right, and that he is only fo. But is
deception then unavoidable ? Is there no criterion,
no certain' mark, by which God's people may avoid
being deceived ; by which, the (heep of Chrift may
be ..ble to difcern his voice, from the voice of Gran-
gers ? Yes, blefled be God there is, elfe our Lord
could not have faid, " by their fruits ye (hall know
them/'* If a teacher does not dired fouls to Chrift,
but to Mofes for falvation ; or, if under the notion
of cxaltirig Chi ift and grace, he teach what tends
to licentioufneis : if he is not open and frank ; is
not willing to declare his principles on all points :
if he depreciate human learning and a regular in-
dudion into the gofpel miniftry : if the fpirit he
promotes among his followers, inftead of a meek,
humble, catholic, be a violent, furious, felf fiaffi-
cient fpirit : if he acTrs deceitfully, pretending one
thing, when it is evident he intended another, dif-
claiming and pretending to abhor a party fpirit, when
it appears more and more plain, that the promoting
of a party fpirit, was, and is the chief thing, he
had, and has in view : if they are aftive in endea-
vouring by every means, to pick members out of
thofe churches, which themielves cannot deny to
be true churches of Chrill : if their whole conduft,
as far as it fucceeds, evidently tends to build their
own feel, on the ruins of every other denomination
of profeffed Chriftians : if under the higheft pre-
tences to diftintereftednels, they are evidently gree-
dy of filthy lucre ; or, if they are ftran<:ers, and not
properly recommended ; in any or all of thcfe cafes,

* Mat. vil.

people

[ '7 1

people would do well to fear the \vorft, and to act
with caution. That is a very folemn and tender ad-
drefs of theapoftle, Rom. xvi. 17,18. " Now, I be-
feech you brethren,mark them which caufe divifions
and offences, contrary to the do flrine ye have learn-
ed, and avoid them, for they that are fucb, ferve
not our Lord Jefus Chrift, but their own belly, and
with good words and fair fpeeches, deceive the
hearts of the firnple."

HAVING gone through the doflrinal part, I pro-
ceed to fome practical improvement, which, 1 have
in a great meafure anticipated by what has been
faid, particularly on the laft general head. I (hull
therefore confine what I add, to a ule of hinenta-
tion, and a few words of exhortation.

Tirft. I lay, we may infer from the fubjecl, that
the diviiions among chriftians are much, to be la-
mented. How many parties at this day, each very
ianguine that the.y are in the right ; one crying, lo
here is Chrift, and another^ lo he is there ! Pro-
feflbrs not only divided, but fub-divided, crumbled
almoft into atoms of parties, " Ephraiii> aeainic Ma-
nuffah, and Manaflah againft Ephraim, and they to-
gether againft Judah." In how many places, where
hopeful religious appearances have been o'f late, have
tares fprung up, almoft to the choaking of the good
feed: Surely an enemy hath done this? and yet,

ken for friends.
as thole who
run into the difficult office of the miniftry, withou;
being lent ; who would be teachers of the law
#nd the gofpel too, not knowing ' what they lay,
nor whereof they affirm. Are not perfons of -this

D 2, ftarn,^

are not (cch enemies, by many miftak
None fo high in the efteem of fonis,

[ 28 ]

L. .. JJ

itarnp Bugged and carefled, while the faithful mi-
miiers of Chrift are defpifcd. None like thoie who
go about as incendiaries, endeavouring to fill the
minds of people with prejudices againft human
learning and a regular miniftry : who deal with
mankind, rather as affectionate than rational crea-
tures, ufing their utmoft ikill to get the paflions of
people on their fide, that by the means of them,
they may bribe^the judgment, and fo win profelkes
to their party. Are there not in our days, perform
of the fame complexion, with thoCe mentioned by
the apoflie, who " creep into houfes, rind lead cap-
tive filly women/' and men alfo ? And in fome
placrc, uo not people feem to b~ ieizcd with a fpi-
litual giddinefs ; like a (hip without bdlaft, are toft
with every wind ; appear poflcfled with an inccffan.t
desire of novelty ; with the Athenians, feeking to
<e hear fome new thing, heaping to themielves teach-
ers, 'having itching ears, ever learning, and never
able to come to the knowledge of the truth!" Does
it not look awful to fee many, and forne of whom
letter mu ht have been expected, renouncing their
infant baptifm ? Others, pretending to be the only
chriftians, according to the primitive model, repre-
ienting all other denominations, as corrupters of the
-word of God,and their teachers,as blind leaders of the
blind ; while the carnally fecure, and men of infidel
principles, or of a dciilical turn, make a feoff at all
thefc things, and ridicule chriftianity itielf, on ac-
count of the folly of its profeflbrs. Surely firs, thefe
divisions of rulers, are fufficient ground for great
thoughts of heart. I know but of one confideration,
\vhicli upon fuch a propofition, i^ fufficient to qui-
et the mind of him, who prefers the welfare of Zi-
to his chief joy : It is ihi?a That all things are

in

in the hands of Zion's king : that he hath power
and {kill lufficient to bring a revenue of glory to God,
even from human wcakncfs and folly. O that the
eccleiiaftical anarchy of this day might dilpofe mi-
nifters and other chriftiaos, to enter into a ferious,
enquiry, whether a common fence about the church-
es, miubt not be likely to prevent many of thefe
bad things, and to keep out the boar of the forreft,
from entering in to waile the vineyard at his pleafure.

I PROCEED to a word ©f exhortation : Firjl, te
the unconverted. Altho' I would have you to take a
part of the advice of the apoftle in my text, /. e . to
live in peace with men, yet that which chiefly con-
cerns you, is to get into a ftate of reconciliation or.
peace with God. Confider, that till once you
are in this ftate, you cannot love your neigh-
bour, nor do any duty you owe to him from a right
principle. Some of you, are already, it may be, in
pofleffion of a fort of peace : " The ftrong man
armed, keepeth his palace, and his goods are in
peace/' But does not your own confcience tell you,
that your peace is not well founded ? that it will
not endure the teft of God's word ? that you have
never been thoroughly awakened, convinced and
humbled ? that the fpirit of felf dependance has ne-
ver been effectually fubdued ? that you have never
gone out of yourfelves to Chrift ; that you are not
pew creature?, io that if you die in your prefent
ftate, yon mu(l needs perifn? To fuch I would fay;
why wiir you, or rather how can you remain earie
in your prefent ftate ? -Can you think with any pa-
tience, of falling into the hands of the living God ;
of being led forth with the workers of iniquity, arid
having your portion with the unclean ? N ny, can

you

3° ]

you bear the thought cf having the hotteft place in
hell ; of finking, far deeper than the abominable So-
domites, in the lake that burrs with fire and brim-
ftone ? If you cannot, then " acquaint yourfelves
with God and be at peace," take hold of his ftren2;th
and make peace, and he fays, " you (ball make
peace -," and what you do, do quickly ; to delay till
to-morrow, may be for ever too late. The ax is
laid to the root of the tree, and the judge ilands at
the door. " Your judgment for, a long time linger-
eth not, and your damnation doth not flumber."
It has been of late, and I truft yet is in many places,
a day of God's power : fuch feafons do not happen
often : if you outftand this, you may never fee ano-
ther : They are ftartling words, Jer. viii. 20. " The
harveft is paft, the lummer is ended,- and we are
pot faved."

MAY I, without offence, be permited to drop a
word to miniilers ? I would juft fay, let us, my
dear bretheren, pray for the peace of Jerufalem,
and do what we can to promote it. If we would
put an effectual flop to men cf ieparating principles,
and pracftifes, let us out do them in abundant la-
bours, in evangelical preaching, in zeal for (-od, and
hearty concern for fouls. To ufe biiliop Burnets
words, in his paflp'ral letter to his clergy, " let
us out preach them, out pray them, and out live
them/' I would add, let us fee that we hurt not
the churches peace, nor lay a ft ambling block in the
way of our people, by carrying catholicifm too far,
For Snftance, if they fee us giving the right hand
of fellowship to men of corrupt principles, will not
this be a caufe of ftumbiing to them? How natu-
ral will it be for them to &ya thefe our teachers in-

culcatq

C 3<

cutcate on us,the abfolute fovereignty and freedom of
divine grace, the doctrine of original fin, of jaftiS-
cation by faith only, of the new birth, ol the necef-
fhy of divine fupernatural influence, &c. but we fee
that they maintain all acts of communion with
thofe, that do not believe thefe dodtrines. What
can we inferr from this their conduct, but either,
they do'not believe thefe doctrines, or, at ieaft, do
not believe them to be fo important as they teach
us they are. Perhaps, lome of us are not fufficient-
ly aware, how ftumbling this is to fome of our hear-
ers, and what a handle is made of it by feparatcs.

To the aflembly in general, I would fay, you
have been hearing in the doctrinal part the nature of
that peace which is acceptable to God ; What an
excellent and important bleffing it is : Some direc-
tions have likewife been given by a due attendance
on which, you may be likely to attain this invalu-
able bleffing. Thefe things, however weakly fpok-
en upon, have been laid before you, I truft, \vir*i
a fingle eye, by one who is under infinite obligati-
ons to redeeming love, and who has a fincere concern
for the peace and welfare of Jerufalern. I hope
then, you will take the word of inftruction and ex-
hortation in good part ; and that you will follow with
your earned prayers, him who takes his affectionate
leave of you, in the words of my text ; " finally
brethren farewell ; be perfect, be of good comfort,
be of one mind, live in pe^ce, and the God of love
and peace ihall be with you.

FINIS,

'7^5